High coronary artery calcification scores (CACS) may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes, research claims.

The findings, reported by DGDispatch, were announced at the 77th European Atherosclerosis Society Congress by investigators involved in the Prospective Evaluation of Diabetic Ischaemic Heart Disease by Computed Tomography (Predict) study.

Some 622 patients with type 2 diabetes without a history of CV disease were recruited initially to take part in the study. Of these, 589 later underwent electron beam computed tomography to assess CACS.

After a median follow-up of four years, researchers noted 66 primary endpoints of a first CV or stroke event. These included 14 myocardial infarctions and ten strokes.

The study also found 36 new cases of nonfatal coronary artery disease, one revascularisation procedure and five cases of unstable angina or acute coronary syndromes.

Using CACS hazard ratios, the study identified a "clear and significant" association between CACS and CV events rates, prompting Dr Ian Godsland who led the study to describe the scores as "highly predictive".

Although the study helped identify a high-risk group of patients who may benefit from more intensive preventative therapies, Dr Godsland added that almost a quarter of patients were categorised as "low risk," and those patients may not need immediate intervention.

As many as 23 per cent of patients with diabetes may not therefore require aggressive cardiovascular management, the study noted.

Researchers stressed that although CACS could become "a powerful tool" in evaluating CV risk in type 2 diabetes, further cost/benefit analysis was required.

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